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Marianne Meed-Ward has organized a meeting with are residents and the developer to discuss the upcoming Cameryn Lanes development that is proposed for the Caroline Street between Burlington and Hager.

This is your opportunity to express the impact of such developments that propose to change zoning from Single Family to otherwise: to accommodate town-houses, semi’s, low rise condos or any other higher density building that will disrupt the neighbourhood character.

Please come out and be heard and be counted. The city along with the developer are under the impression there are only a handful of concerned residents and as such will use this meeting as a measure.

Tell your neighbours to get informed, visit this website, walk past the proposed building site and discuss what a zoning change may do to the make-up of your neighbourhood and the way of life here.

Maurice will probably create beautiful drawings of houses to present…BUT, this is not the point,.

If we allow one DEVELOPER to CHANGE the zoning of OUR NEIGHBOURHOOD, even one site at a time, this will open the door for more speculation by more developers who will continue to buy up the remaining single family homes. They will push the zoning laws to allow more townhomes and larger denser developments.

Leslie hit the nail on the head this is about zoning. If this zoning change goes through anyone who thinks it won’t affect the decision of the next application is being naive. Don’t change the zoning and we preserve the integrity of a neighbourhood which WE ALL live in and enjoy change the zoning and ONE guy gets to make a bunch of money.

–I agree that a change in zoning is to be fought at all costs as this would open it up to who knows what. However the developer has a point when he says some of the newer additions (detached houses) leave a bit to be desired. Just take a walk up Hager from Ontario street to see that he is correct in this at least.
–I remember when the city offered to create a heritage district with the bylaw written to suit the wishes of the neighbourhood and how vehemently it was opposed. Perhaps the chickens are coming home to roost.

I agree with Gary’s point regarding some of the new detached houses and extensions. Two of the most inappropriate buildings on Hager are a large modern “green-style” property at 525 Hager and a cold austere concrete block infill at 1360 Caroline (SW Corner of Hager).

Many architects/builders thrive on making a statement and provoking controversy. We assume that the majority of downtown residents have an appreciation for Heritage conservation and some style and taste but bottom line one man’s perception of leading design is another persons eyesore.

Thanks Allan,
I agree emphatically that aesthetics are pure subjectivity and that there will never be a consensus. This is why our hosted discussion is centered around the land use, not design guidelines or looks.

If the folks that have bought or built homes in this precinct have done so because they love the single family home nature of the area and their understanding of how the current zoning will maintain this character, then that is a promise made by the city that should be upheld.

It is up to all of us independent of our aesthetic opinions to support the city in their effort to uphold that promise. We should not allow the divisive distraction of aesthetics to fill the agenda and let our zoning slip away. Because the next in through that open door, the procession of developments, will serve no one but the developers themselves.

I find it unfortunate that anybody would use a well-intentioned neighbourhood forum such as this to single out somebody else’s home in a disparaging way. Let’s focus on the issue here which is saving our neighbourhood from a zoning change that would open the door to further developers and further intensification.

One may not appreciate the personal choices of all homeowners but a big part of the charm of this neighbourhood is in its eclectic character that has evolved over many years… and free from developers! Victorian? Queen Anne? Colonial Revival? Arts and Crafts? Mid-Century Modern? Contemporary? We can boast it all here in St. Luke’s Precinct, and I for one am glad we can!

Public Meeting: January 25 on proposed redevelopment of 546 Burlington at Caroline Street
Date: January 25, 6:30pm Room 247 2nd Floor
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Resident's of St. Luke's Precinct, please support your neighbourhood by attending this meeting and voice your opinion about this proposed project that threatens to shrink house side yards, back yards and setbacks in order to fit 3 houses on a current single home lot. This is a precedent setting set of amendments for the St. Luke's Precinct. Hang on to reasonable amendments and use of your by-laws and protect your hood.

Update – Oct 20, 2014

Public meeting Nov 13 on proposed redevelopment of Locust/Elgin
Date: Nov 13, 7pm, Rm 305, City Hall
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Residents of St. Luke's Precinct, please attend this meeting and voice your opinion on this development that so far proposes to require zoning changes. Zone changes anywhere within the precinct will cause a precedent of further zone change as stated by planning. Hang on to your zoning and protect your hood.

Stay tuned for more info.

Update – Sept 26, 2014

A neighbour of the St. Luke's Precinct has informed us that surveyors have been measuring the Dalewood Apartments property at 1367 Elgin Street.

Part or all if this property is owned by Maurice Desrochers development group / Executive Furnished Rentals. Desrochers has previously indicated a desire to rezone this property for 8 story condominiums.

A site rezone of this nature would mean a precedent rezone for the whole precinct.

Stay tuned for more information.

Update – Sept 12, 2014

510 Hager Avenue / New Home Build — Late summer, the city received the site plan application/plans for the second Mattwood house on Hager Ave. This is the lot(s) originally proposed as townhomes/semis by Mattwood but the Neighbours of St. Luke's expressed discomfort for the zone change and appealed to the builder to do single detached builds.

Update – June 4, 2014

Confirmation from the city is that the developer is intending on building 2 detached single family homes. They have begun the first on the south most lot but have yet to propose a plan for the 2nd. This first house will conform to the current zoning and needs only minor variance approval.